Nuclear Weapons History and Proliferation: Introduction

The Development and Diplomatic Relations of Nuclear Weapons from 1945 to 1990

Introduction

Throughout the history of the world, fear has brought great change to the many people it affects. One such instance of this is in the case of nuclear weapons, and their change throughout times past. The mid-1940s brought with them the discovery of one of the greatest, most powerful scientific units ever: nuclear energy. Nuclear energy can be used for many useful purposes, including the production of power, and the ability to make X-rays. The United States government saw nuclear energy, instead, as a way to intimidate rivals. From what was known at the time, nuclear radiation was an extremely hazardous, often lethal, material. Because of this, the military considered nuclear energy to be more of an aid as a weapon than anything else. With this, the Manhattan Project was initiated in late 1942, marking the beginning of nuclear weapons research in the world. Since that time, an uncountable number of nuclear tests have taken place by nations all across the globe, each with the same mentality: don’t be the last one without the weapon, or you’re done for. “July 16, 1945. The US conducts the world’s first nuclear weapons test code-named Trinity, at Alamogordo, NM” (Mendelsohn, Jack, and David Grahame, Arms Control Chronology, 5). It was impossible for any nation to ignore the threat which faced it, for fear of extermination kept the development of nuclear weapons at a steadily growing rate.

Other posts on nuclear arms:

Nuclear Weapons History and Proliferation: Introduction
Nuclear Weapons History and Proliferation: 1940s
Nuclear Weapons History and Proliferation: 1950s
Nuclear Weapons History and Proliferation: 1960s
Nuclear Weapons History and Proliferation: 1970s
Nuclear Weapons History and Proliferation: 1980s
Nuclear Weapons History and Proliferation: Conclusion

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Garwin, Richard L. “Nuclear Weapons in the 21st Century: Prospects and Policy.” 23 Oct. 1999 – 25 Oct. 1999. 29 Mar. 2004 http://www.fas.org/rlg/102599nw21.htm.
Mendelsohn, Jack, and Grahame, David. Arms Control Chronology. The Center for Defense Information: Washington D.C. 2002.
“Nuclear Energy.” Harper’s Magazine. 29 March 2004. 2 April 2004 http://www.harpers.org/Nuclear.html.
“Nuclear Weapon.” Wikipedia. Nov. 2000 – 29 Mar. 2004. 29 Mar. 2004 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapon.